We've moved!

The new Decocco Design and DeCocco Design Drapes websites launched with great success!

 Now we're moving the blog to the website, so please head over to that location.  Click HERE and I'll take you there!

Ciao,
Anne

Hello Fall! Let's get ready for (a little) more time spent inside.

Fall is such a beautiful time of the year, isn't it?  Mother Nature really struts her stuff.  You think green leaves and flowers in every shade are pretty?  Then they all turn a riot of hot shades and it's hard to keep your eyes on the road when you drive as the scenery is so stunning.  Love it!

We start to think of fun holidays and gathering with family and friends, and of cozy evenings snuggling on the sofa.  I might change out a few of the accent pillows, using richer colors and fuzzy textures and then put a warm throw over a chair near a big window with a beautiful view, but has a bit of a draft.

Flanking that beautiful-but-drafty window with a pair of gorgeous drapes in a color like Spicy Amber (shown here on our Modern Stripe pattern with q European header) is a quick and easy way to get ready for the season.  We use a thick nap lining with this fabric, to give it nice body, but it also provides some great insulation against any coolness coming in from the window frame.

Modern Stripe also comes in 2 fantastic blues.  This one is Aqua Delight.  It's more of a bird's egg blue with a raised detail that features a tiny pop of rust with stripes in a range of warm beige.  

And this one is Modern Stripe in our Grey Blue.  A cooler blue, with that raised detail in grey with a stripe that leans toward chartreuse.  This pattern is a great way to use a stripe without going too cabana-y.  We love this pattern in every room, but it's a standout in the Dining Room.  

Since our drapes are custom made upon order, they take 4-6 weeks to arrive at your doorstep.  Now is a great time to start thinking about getting the house ready for parties, pictures and presents!

Ciao,

Anne

We made it! Now everyone can buy our drapes online--easy ordering, great prices, unbeatable quality.

The website is up! Live! DeCocco Design Drapes!  Click and see!

Ok, enough with the exclamation points.  It's been up for about a week, but there were lots of little computer issues to address. Who knew the differences in Internet Explorer and Chrome and Firefox and Safari?  So much to know.  What Gail and I  DO  know about is fabric, color, design, workroom quality AND the fact  that you are going to LOVE the choices we're offering for drapes on your windows! 

We also know how confusing it can be to order drapes and so have worked all these many months (9) to come up with a very special website with a very easy ordering process.  It was really hard to do, but a goal that we refused to lose sight of.  Frustration is not something we want for you!  Oh, those exclamation points keep sneaking back in (but we are excited!).   Beautiful windows in a home that makes you smile--that's what we want for you.

You won't find window treatments like these anywhere else.  We've looked, and that's why we started this company; to provide a great option between ready-made drapes of lower quality from big box retailers and fully custom products that require a lot of time, money and energy spent with an interior designer and custom workroom.  DeCocco Design Drapes provides a happy medium.  We ARE the interior designers and our custom workroom makes these drapes for us to send to your door.  The quality is superb, the linings are premium, the headers are updated and the prices are fantastic.  Compare us with anyone of similar quality. 

We're very proud of our product.  Gail and I wanted to offer something different, something better.  Our fabrics come from some of the top fabric houses in the U. S..  The patterns are stylish with a timeless appeal and of a lovely weight--no flimsy stuff for us--or for you.  These drapes will hang from their rods proudly, substantially, richly.  The colors are glorious.  Some are fun, some are elegant; they're all exquisite.

We're going to use this blog to talk about how easy it can be to  put drapes in your home with spectacular effect.  We'll also talk about the differences in our drapes when compared with anything else in the marketplace, and occasionally show some sneak peaks of upcoming additions to our line of gorgeous drapery panels.  It won't be all drapes all the time, of course.  I can't help but throw in personal stuff and I want you to get to know Gail better.  She's a wonderful business partner and a great friend.  Together, we eat a lot of popcorn and a little good chocolate during our workdays. We work very hard, but we also laugh A LOT in the office and on buying trips (and  during meetings and on the phone and...).

So watch for posts about linings, hems, trims, swatches, lengths, headers, widths, rods, etc.  So much goes into window treatments.  But we've got it all covered for you at DeCocco Design Drapes.  We've even put our email address right on the ordering pages of the website in case you need some professional advice before you order.  Gail and I will personally help you make the right choice.  And really, I can't say it enough that we've made ordering online EASY.  And shipping is free!  Wait till you see.

DeCocco Design Drapes.  Ta da!

Ciao,

Anne

9/11/12

photo by John   Hoge

 

Be aware of the beauty of this world and dare to show your love to all.  In honor of those who lost their lives in a terrible way on a terrible day, live your life with joy. 

Peace,

Anne

Tomorrow is Labor Day.  Boy, we have labored at DeCocco Design this year!  Lots of great design projects, working with wonderful clients who wanted to see big changes in their homes.   Dreamy stuff.  At the same time we've been working to get the new website up and running to be able to launch the online Drapes collection.  The picture above is my laptop keyboard.  You can see that the letters are wearing off.  There are also keys that are hanging on for dear life and a collection of cookie crumbs.  It's quite a sight.  But all the work is about to pay off, as the website is scheduled to make it's debut tomorrow.  On Labor Day.  Poetic justice, for sure.  I thought we would launch on April Fools Day and I thought that would be appropriate.  Ha.  Tell God your plans and watch Her laugh.

Today I'm very antsy about the new site, so I took myself off to Macy's to buy a new handbag.  Nothing fancy--I'm as hard on handbags as I am on laptop keyboards.  I replaced the old black bag with a new black bag.  Every time I buy a different color bag, I regret it.  Here's a pic of the new handbag:

Looks a lot like the keyboard, doesn't it?  Has lots of nice pockets to stash a variety of supplies.  Big sale at Macy's today.  Isn't there a big sale at Macy's every day?  Hmmm, I can't leave you with these dark and rather dreary pictures.  Let me see what else I can dig up....

Oh yeah!  The Beautyberry is in bloom.  Such a pretty plant.  And, even though the deer have obliterated my sweet patch of Black Eyed Susans, a couple showed up in a new spot:

And when our son, Chris,  was visiting a week ago, he  helped me plant a Fall garden.  Very small, but all that I can handle right now.  There will be several kinds of lettuces, spinach, peas and swiss chard.  Chris is a  great gardener.  Things are sprouting already!  I'll get some pics for you.  I want you to know that you don't have to be neat and tidy and all Martha Stewart-ish to have a garden (I love Martha, but I cannot BE Martha-like).

We'll talk again tomorrow.

Ciao,
Anne

photo by John Hoge 

We're revving up our engines and heading down a new road....

Slow down, you move too fast

You've got to make the morning last...

The house is quiet.  It's a beautiful morning.   Life is good.  And today is the last day of school--just half a day, too.  Grandboy has finished 1st grade, with flying colors.  How can it be that 1st grade is already over?  How can he be growing up so fast?  You think kids grow up fast?  Grandkids grow up even faster.  It's unbelievable.

The last week of school is pretty funny.  Quite hectic.  Lots to do, finish up, pack away, send home, send in, show up for.  Ice cream is almost always involved. The backpack starts to get smelly, the uniforms are looking tired (Catholic school--the wonderful TFS in Raleigh), the sneakers are beat to hell, the teachers are looking a tad loopy (I love a loopy teacher).  And there are flowers, balloons, gift bags, hugs and smiles everywhere.

And now on to summer vacation--for the kids.  I remember my summers as a child.  The lake, the beach, family reunions, road trips, Kool-Aid, playing outdoors all day long, reading every book I could in the library, being bored, picking berries, slamming the screen door until my mother yelled, roasting marshmallows--some of the very best memories of my life.

Be sure to make time for memories this summer.  Swing in the hammock whenever possible.

Ciao,
Anne

THIS is what I call an interesting photo of an interior!

You've all heard me whine about my inability to take good photos.  As an interior designer, I know I've got the eye to see and compose good shots, but the technical knowledge is just not there.  Last week I bought the latest issue of Domino magazine.  My interest was piqued by the headline "334 Best Makeovers and Easy Decorating Tips" on the cover and the $10.99 price tag (what could be inside a magazine to make it worth 11 bucks?).  Ok, it was an impluse buy--I've done worse.

I'm enjoying reading it (have made it up to page 74 so far).  The layout inside is lovely.  Clean.  Attractive pictures. Product sourcing and pricing right on the page.  Best of all--and you're going to know what a nut I am here-- the paperstock used is fabulous.  Heavier than the norm.  Nice thick pages.  Great paper is a tactile pleasure.

Then I came  upon this photo on page 72.  My brain said "THERE IT IS!"  My idea of an interesting photo.Lovely  finishes and well used props.  See what you think:

Wow.  Is that a beautiful door or what?  Oh!  The cow!  I'm kidding, of course it's all about the cow. That's the well used prop.  Don't you want give give him a hug?  Be careful--I'm not sure cows like to be hugged. I LOVE this picture.  The photographer is Paul Costello.

Ciao,
Anne

Happy Memorial Day--and Thank you

Thank you to all who have served in a war and to all the families and friends who endured the ultimate sacrifice that their loved ones made for our freedom.  I am enjoying this day in their memory and in their honor.

Today we've got so many beautiful flowers in our house!  There's a lot blooming outside, so I put a little bunch of gardenias in the powder room.  What a wonderful scent they have.  Here's a little, fuzzy picture of them.  The more I work on  my photography skills, the fuzzier my pictures become--what's that about?

Then I have this little bouquet of yellow on a table in the space-formerly-known-as-the-Train-Room.  Ok, let's get over that right now.  It's the library:

Notice the little picture of the skating nuns.  That was my mom's. Always makes me smile. 

In the kitchen we've got 2 bouquets.  We had a little soiree for a much loved friend yesterday (a milestone birthday!).  I went into the yard and cut a couple of hydrangeas and buddleia and put them on the table.  I do NOT have a knack for floral arrangment, so this was pretty good for me. There was a tablecloth for the party, but now it's in the washing machine.

See the strange thing in the center of the window?  That's the world's best hummingbird feeder.  Costs about $6 at the hardware store.  The sweet little birds come right up to the window all day long to have a sip.  Our  own version of "Planet Earth."

The guest of honor brought me flowers (Emily Post would be mortified).  I'm drawing a blank on the name of these beauties.  Maybe Asiatic Lilies?  They are extravagantly gorgeous with a powerful scent.

Just starting to open up.  Here's the first bloom that's welcoming the day. Hello gorgeous!

And then on the screened porch there are the iconic happy sunflowers.

  

There is no such thing as a bad picture of a sunflower.

And speaking of the screened porch, you know how much I love it and how happy I am when I get to hang the lanterns from the ceiling.  I'm going to hang more lanterns up this year.  Hub will surely roll his eyes--they're not his favorite decorative element.  Crazy man. They are FABULOUS!

Our slice of heaven--the best room in a much loved house.  Life is good.

Ciao,

Anne

Holding my breath for those drapes!

I'm working on some photos that will grace the new Drapes order page on the website and just can't help but laugh at myself. What was I thinking? This whole e commerce- launching a product line-while working with (patient) clients-and raising a grandboy is totally insane!  But completely interesting at the same time and you KNOW that we will get there.  It must be like running a marathon.  I wouldn't know, but it seems like an apt comparison.  I bet we launch in 2 weeks!  Watch this space.

While working on the aforementioned photos this evening, I'm also writing back and forth with our wonderful web developer as he struggles to understand all the patterns and colorways of each drape fabric and coordinating trim.  Poor man.  Even the most brilliant, talented and creative person can crack when it comes to fabrics and trims. I laugh at him and crack the whip.  He ignores me smugly, knowing that he holds the key to our success at reaching you all and showing you our amazing drapes. Then it turns out that I've mislabeled some of the swatches.  Oh dear.  I've turned in my whip.

Here's a photo slated for the "rejects" pile.  The photo, not the drape, the drape is fabulous.   It's our Ovals pattern in Steel with a simple white trim, edged in Slate:

I was trying to be artistic with the composition.  It's kinda fuzzy. 

Ciao,
Anne